MT-2: Essential Spinal Seminar (Oct 03 - 04, 2026)

MT-2: Essential Spinal Seminar is organized by Maitland-Australian Physiotherapy Seminars (MAPS) and will be held from Oct 03 - 04, 2026 in Woodbury, New York, United States of America.

Description:
Participants are presented with peer-reviewed published evidence supporting the mechanical, neurophysiological, immunological, and psychological mechanisms of action of OMT. Evidence from recent Systematic Reviews and RCTs are presented through an online lecture/PowerPoint presentation to illustrate the effectiveness of the Maitland approach, and specific conditions that respond to, OMT.

Course modules include:

• Lecture Overview and Introduction
• Mechanisms of Action of OMT
• Evidence for OMT Effectiveness
• Maitland Principles
• Subjective Examination & Physical Examination
• Clinical Applications: Evidence for techniques, conditions that they treat, and how to incorporate them into clinical practice
• Video Live Patient Examination
• MT-2 CAD-VBI

The Maitland-Australian approach is extremely patient-centric and focuses upon highly specific subjective & objective physical examination processes. Clinical Reasoning and constant reassessment are taught and emphasized. Methods of assessment and treatment are practiced extensively in lab sessions (95% of live course and 49% of total course hours). Techniques taught include: active physiological, passive physiological, passive accessory, and combination movements. Both osteokinematic and arthrokinematic movements are incorporated. Psychomotor skill acquisition is ensured by detailed Instructor feedback given directly to each participant throughout the course. “LIVE” patient assessments and treatments are presented where permitted.

Regions extensively covered include: Cervical, Thoracic (including rib articulations) and Lumbar spine. Neurodynamic assessments and treatment of the upper and lower limbs is included and integrated with the associated spinal regions.

The hard-bound course manual includes detailed step-by-step instructions for each technique and more than 270 photographs. Over 900 references are provided. Required online home study coursework of 20.1 hours includes a 7.2-hour online lecture presentation and 1.2 hour video live patient exam presented through MAPS Online Learning.

Course Objectives:
Upon completion of the course the participant will be able to: 

• Accurately differentiate between normal and abnormal resistance to passive spinal movement using accessory & physiological examination techniques. Demonstrate at least one example. ATs, COTAs, OTs, PTAs are limited to using physiological movement examination techniques only, and may not use accessory techniques.
• Discriminate between five different grades of passive movement to manage spinal pathology (Grades I, II, III, IV, and V as per Maitland). ATs, COTAs, OTs, PTAs may observe all five grades, but are prohibited from performing Grades III, IV and V.
• Accurately apply at least two examples of Maitland’s five grades of passive movement to a participant-selected spinal region. ATs, COTAs, OTs, and PTAs are limited to Grades I & II.
• Summarize Maitland’s clinical reasoning model, including eight clinical hypothesis categories per M. Jones and D. Rivett.
• Apply evidence-based clinical reasoning in the orthopedic manual therapy management of a patient with spinal pathology. Learner will demonstrate at least once.
• Synthesize principles of treating pain and stiffness as per Maitland and other manual P.T.s. Participant will orally defend at least one example.
• Accurately defend the most effective orthopedic manual therapy management of a patient with a spinal disorder based upon clinical assessment and clinical reasoning, rather than theoretical protocols. Learner will demonstrate at least once.
• Integrate clinical reasoning skills to recognize movement anomalies in one or more selected common spinal orthopedic conditions.
• Apply critical reasoning skills to anticipate the impact of the application of one or more orthopedic manual therapy techniques of the spine on the patient’s functional goals/outcomes and/or activities of daily living. Learner will demonstrate through participation in class discussion of live patient evaluation and/or during the hands-on laboratory.
• Integrate evaluation skills in differential assessment and diagnosis of one selected common spinal orthopedic condition. Objective applies to PTs, DCs, MDs and DOs only.
• Demonstrate the ability to quickly and effectively manage spinal orthopedic conditions using at least one known manual therapy technique.
• Accurately defend at least one modified or newly created effective manual therapy technique for the management of spinal orthopedic conditions. Participant will demonstrate their modified or newly developed technique at least once.